Fuel saving in-car devices - SenterNovem, The Netherlands

Summary
This project aimed to promote fuel saving in-car devices that give feedback to car drivers in order to achieve an optimal, fuel-efficient driving style. Such devices include econometers, eco-revolution meters, on-board computers, cruise controls, diesel consumption meters, speed and revolution limiters and tyre pressure monitoring systems. Partners comprised four organisations in the OPET Network: SenterNovem (Netherlands), GIEC (China), Motiva (Finland) and IDAE (Spain). The European Commission provided half of the funding for the 'Fuel saving in-car devices' task under the CO-OPET Work Package 'Energy issues in transport'. Activities included workshops with stakeholders, a market study among consumers and strategy development for promotion of in-car devices in Europe and China. The main result is a recommendation to the European Commission to aim for standard equipment of fuel saving in-car devices in all new cars.

End-user area	Transport and mobility
Target audience	Local and regional authorities Transport companies
Technical scope	Energy efficiency

Context
Novem (re-branded SenterNovem on 1 May 2004), EVA (Austria) and KTI (Hungary) carried out the project "Qualitative market survey and workshop on new-generation fuel saving devices" in the 2001-2002 OPET round. Results indicated that there is a widespread latent demand for easy-to-use and easy-to-build-in feedback instruments in cars. Such instruments can save fuel considerably by assisting drivers in achieving an ECO-DRIVING style. For example, drivers in a Dutch field experiment with a new fuel-efficiency support tool were able to reduce fuel consumption by 11%. If actual driving behaviour deviates from optimal fuel-efficient behaviour, the tool presents detailed real-time advice to the driver on how to change driving behaviour in order to minimise fuel consumption.

As a follow-up activity Novem with GIEC (China), Motiva (Finland) and IDAE (Spain) started the Task 'Fuel saving in-car devices' in the CO-OPET WP 'Energy issues in transport'. The aim of this task was to draw up an efficient European strategy to promote in-car devices, and also to help China realise the 2008 Olympic slogan "Green Olympics", which means among others that exhaust gas emissions in the host city Beijing have to be reduced substantially by 2008. The task ran from 1 April 2003 to 31 May 2004.

Objectives
As the market potential of fuel-consumption feedback devices is not known, under the 2003-2004 CO-OPET project a quantitative market study was carried out to be able to draw up an efficient European strategy to promote in-car devices that takes into account differences between countries. In parallel, the same study was also undertaken in China. The objective was to use the results of the study to promote fuel saving in-car devices in general and furthermore to adjust prototypes of retrofit Modern Driving Devices. This should make it possible to develop efficient new-generation devices that can be built in at low costs and give different target groups the information they need.

However, during the project the focus changed from retrofit devices to standard devices, as few car drivers and fleet owners are interested in getting current vehicles equipped. They are rather interested in standard or optional in-car devices in cars for several reasons: the high costs of retrofitting, the fact that most devices are fuel specific (either petrol or diesel), as well as warranty and liability issues.

Process
The Task involved the following activities:

• Novem, together with Motiva and idea, organised a workshop in Brussels on 23 September 2003 to discuss experiences with fuel-saving in-car devices in different countries with representatives of car manufacturers (ACEA and individual companies) and first level suppliers, as well as the European Commission, national governments, transport companies and OPETs. Devices covered were econometers, eco-revolution meters, on-board computers, cruise controls, diesel consumption meters, speed and revolution limiters and tyre pressure monitoring systems. This workshop drew over 50 participants from most of the relevant stakeholder groups. Several suppliers presented their products with brochures and computer animations at a stand.
• Building on the outcome of the workshop, the OPET partners conducted a quantitative market study in several European countries (Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands and Spain) and in China. As the workshop concluded that standard equipment is the best strategy to promote fuel-consumption feedback instruments, the study was changed from a market assessment for retrofit devices (addressed in the previous OPET project) to an assessment for standard devices. This involved telephone interviews with consumers about their attitude towards, interest in, wishes and current use of fuel-saving in-car devices.
• The Chinese partner GIEC supported by Novem organised a seminar on energy issues in transport during REAsia in Beijing on 8 April 2004. H ere the potential of new-generation fuel saving devices for meeting the 2008 emissions goals in Beijing was presented to Chinese stakeholders in government and industry. Besides exchanging knowledge on fuel saving devices, another objective of the workshop is to stimulate ECODRIVING. A lso other energy savings and alternative fuels issues were presented and discussed. This seminar drew over 80 participants.
• Results of the market study, perspectives on fuel-saving in-car devices and recommendations for political stakeholders were presented by SenterNovem during the OPET "energy in transport" conference in Brussels on 25 May 2004. They were also brought together in a final report.

Actions
- Workshop
- Seminar
- Market Analysis

Financial resources and partners
Partners in this project and their roles were

• SenterNovem: task leader, workshop organiser, participant in market study, responsible for strategy document
• Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Science: workshop organiser, participant in market study, participant in strategy development
• Motiva Oy: participant in market study, participant in strategy development, assisting in workshop organisation
• IDAE: participant in market study, participant in strategy development, assisting in workshop organisation

Results
The results of the project are laid down in three main deliverables, which are available from the OPET Network website:

• Report on Workshop concerning new-generation fuel saving in-car devices in Brussels, 23 September 2003
• Report on International Workshop: "Energy issues in Transport: Technology Options and Strategy Development", April 8, 2004, Beijing, China
• Report, including results of the market survey and the workshops, and strategies for a European-wide promotion of in-car devices and for reaching the 'Olympic goals' in emission reduction of Beijing/China in 2008

The workshop was instrumental in defining the direction for the market study and the strategy development, especially where the focus on standard instead of retrofit devices is concerned. Results indicate that econometers, while not mandatory, are most widely available in passenger cars. Cruise control is widely available but many drivers who own them say they do not use them. Tyre pressure monitoring systems are available in few cars but many respondents would support making them mandatory. The market study also showed the importance of salesmen giving attention to the functions of the in-car devices.

At the beginning of the project, it was anticipated that the results of the market study would be used to develop a proposal for car manufacturers, with the aim of making fuel saving in-car devices standard in their new models. An EC Directive, or a voluntary agreement, were considered to offer the means of achieving this goal. The development of this proposal was scheduled to take place following a September workshop with stakeholders.

However, the September workshop initiated contacts between the Netherlands government and the European Commission to discuss the possibilities to make fuel saving in-car devices standard in new models. This discussion is ongoing and is part of efforts to promote Ecodriving in the European Union.

The results of this OPET project will therefore feed into existing networks around Ecodriving and fuel consumption labelling. EC fuel consumption labelling obliges manufacturers to provide information about fuel consumption of their vehicles to consumers at the time of purchase and an interesting question is whether this obligation can be and should be extended to providing in-use fuel consumption information via in-car feedback devices.

Another objective of this Task was to help China realise the 2008 Olympic slogan "Green Olympics" with fuel-saving in-car devices. A workshop was organised in Beijing, where the potential of fuel-efficient driving was an eye-opener to the Chinese audience, who called for more co-operation with the EU on this and other energy saving options.

Lessons learned and replication potential
Fuel consumption feedback instruments are offered by several, mostly small-to-medium sized enterprises. There is currently no network to support these companies. In this project, the OPETs have shown that they have a real role to play in such situations. OPET's can place a certain technology in the spotlight and discuss a strategy for promotion. In this case, the technology was promoted specifically to stakeholders at EU level. However, the process can be replicated in each member state and region (this has already taken place in the Netherlands).

It is important to be flexible in creating the promotional plan, as discussions with stakeholders may necessitate a different focus and direction. The activities should not be planned too rigidly as changes may need to be accommodated. In the current project, the major change concerned the shift from retrofit to standard equipment.

Printed reports or other literature available
Report of Workshop on new-generation fuel saving in-car devices in Brussels, 23 September 2003
Cost: free; downloadable from OPET website.

Report of International Workshop "Energy issues in Transport: Technology Options and Strategy Development", April 8, 2004, Beijing, China
Cost: free; downloadable from OPET website.

Report including results of the market survey and the workshops, and strategies for a European-wide promotion of in-car devices and for reaching the 'Olympic goals' in emission reduction of Beijing/China in 2008 'Energy Issues in Transport: Technology Options and Strategy Development'
Cost: free; downloadable from OPET website.

Other contacts
- www.ecodrive.org
- www.hetnieuwerijden.nl